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Appeal after cat is shot in eye in Nottinghamshire

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a cat was shot in the eye in Nottinghamshire.

Mittens, a three-year-old grey and black male tabby, was found by his owner Linda Miran with an eye injury last Monday morning.

Linda, thinking Mittens had been in a fight or had conjunctivitis, took him to the vets, where a pellet was discovered in his bottom eyelid.

Linda, of Inham Road, Chilwell, said: “I let Mittens out on Sunday evening, and on Monday morning at about 7.30am I saw him in the back garden looking very lethargic. I knew straight away that something was wrong, so I brought him inside and that’s when I noticed his right eye was covered in pus and gunge.

“It looked horrific and painful. The vet pulled down his eyelid and a pellet covered in pus fell out. I couldn’t believe it – I was so shocked, I’d never have thought that he had been shot. It’s sickening to think that someone would do this to an animal. It has spooked Mittens out.”

Mittens was kept in overnight at the vets to have more tests and x-rays. Fortunately, no other pellets were found.

Linda, 58, said: “Thankfully, Mittens has had a lucky escape and his vision is not thought to be affected. The vet believed that the pellet grazed the bottom of his eye. I dread to think what would have happened if it had gone through his skull.

“It is frightening that there is someone out there who would deliberately harm an animal in this way.”

RSPCA inspector Sarah Gardner, who is investigating the incident, said: “Mittens is very lucky to have survived such a horrific incident. It must have been very distressing for him and he would have been in a lot of pain.

“We do not know for sure how this happened but we want to make sure that no other animal has to go through this again.

“We urge anyone who has any information at all about this incident to contact the RSPCA in complete confidence on 0300 123 8018.”

The RSPCA is a charity and we rely on public donations to exist. To assist our inspectors in carrying out their vital work please text HELP to 78866 to give £3 (Texts cost £3 + one standard network rate message).